The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, formally recognising Amaravati as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh and giving legal backing to the long‑contested greenfield city project. The move follows a unanimous resolution by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly last week urging the Centre to amend the 2014 reorganisation Act to designate Amaravati as the state’s permanent capital.

The Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Union government, amends Section 5 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, to insert the phrase “Amaravati shall be the new capital” instead of the earlier, generic reference to “a new capital”. Once notified, the status will be effective from 2 June 2024, formalising the date on which the state government had already declared Amaravati as the de‑facto capital.

Main amendments approved

The key legal change lies in replacing the open‑ended clause in the 2014 law with a clear capital specification at Amaravati. Under the amended text, “Amaravati” will be defined as the capital region notified under the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) Act, 2014, tying the capital status to the existing urban‑planning framework.

The Bill also seeks to clarify that the expression “Amaravati” includes the capital city areas notified under APCRDA, thereby bringing the entire capital region under the same statutory umbrella. Officials say this will help resolve overlapping administrative claims and streamline land‑use, revenue, and civic‑management arrangements in the capital region.

Background of the capital dispute

After the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in 2014, Hyderabad served as the common capital for ten years, with the law mandating that Andhra Pradesh set up a new capital without naming it. Over successive state governments, three‑city capital plans and alternate locations generated political friction, leaving the capital question legally ambiguous.reorganisation.

The current TDP‑led NDA government revived the Amaravati project, hailing it as a world‑class “blue‑green” capital blending sustainability with modern infrastructure. The state Assembly’s resolution on 28 March 2026 formally requested the Centre to amend the 2014 Act to accord Amaravati permanent capital status, which the central government has now moved to implement.

Official statements and support

The Union government described the Bill as a measure to “provide statutory clarity” to the capital issue and align the law with the state’s chosen development path. Minister of State for Rural Development Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani told the Lok Sabha that farmers had “sacrificed” their land for the capital project, and women had contributed significantly to the capital‑region development.

TDP leaders, including Nara Lokesh, welcomed the move, calling it a validation of the people‑centric land‑pooling model that has already channelled over 34,000 acres for the capital region, with a land bank of around 54,000 acres. The government says Amaravati will function as a self‑sustaining economic hub, driving growth in agriculture‑linked industries, IT, and logistics.

Impact on Andhra Pradesh

The clear legal status is expected to boost investor confidence, as businesses and multilateral agencies can now treat Amaravati as the undisputed capital for planning infrastructure, real estate, and public‑sector projects. Land‑use guidelines, property records, and tax jurisdictions in the capital region will also become more predictable, reducing litigation and administrative delays.

Local farmers and civil‑society groups, who had earlier staged protests over compensation and rehabilitation, say the Bill must be followed by transparent implementation of land‑pooling and relocation packages. Political observers note that Amaravati’s formalisation as the sole capital is likely to influence the next round of delimitation and electoral geography in coastal Andhra.

What next after the bill

The Bill now goes to the Rajya Sabha for consideration; if cleared, it will be sent to the President for assent before being notified in the Gazette. Once notified, all references to the Andhra Pradesh capital in Union and state laws, notifications, and regulations will automatically shift to Amaravati, with effect from 2 June 2024.

The state government has signalled plans to accelerate phase‑two expansion of the capital, including transit‑oriented development, higher‑education clusters, and special‑purpose vehicles for utilities and transport. With Amaravati now legally entrenched as Andhra Pradesh’s sole capital, the focus is expected to shift to execution, governance models, and how the capital integrates with the state’s broader growth agenda.